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MANILA, PHILIPPINES - ABOUT 1,500 activists marched on Saturday to the Philippine presidential palace to demand that embattled President Gloria Arroyo step down, the latest in a series of protests calling for her to resign.
The protesters, led by feminist groups on International Women's Day, burned an effigy of Mrs Arroyo as they waved placards saying 'Gloria Out Now' and 'She is evil'.
Riot police formed a cordon to prevent demonstrators from getting near the palace but did not interfere with the protest.
Mrs Arroyo has come under pressure during recent weeks to resign over allegations that her husband and a close political ally sought millions of dollars in kickbacks from China's ZTE Corp. to help it win a national Internet broadband deal.
Mrs Arroyo cancelled the deal but has denied any wrongdoing.
The Senate is holding a public inquiry into the allegations.
Mrs Arroyo marked International Women's Day by launching two programmes, at a cost of 464 million pesos (S$15.8 million), to provide livelihood opportunities for women. -- AFP
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